Foldable vending tray for ice-cream cups and the like



April 3, 1951 2,547,716

E. M. MURPHY FOLDABLE VENDING TRAY FOR ICE CREAM CUPS AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 4, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics FOLDABI IE VENDIN G TRAY FOR ICE-CREAM CUPS AND THE LIKE Elsie M. Murphy, Elmhurst, Ill. Application January 4, 1949, Serial No. 69,158

' sclaims. (c1. 224 45) My invention relates to foldable, portable trays, especially adapted for use in handling articles such as ice cream cups, cups of soda water, and the like.

Stores selling refreshments along the highways are frequently called upon to serve ice cream cups or beverages to a number of persons driving up in an automobile, who prefer to be served without getting out; hence," if several trips between the store counter and the automobile are to be avoided a tray must be used capable of carrying enough cups for serving all of the party at one time.

The principal object of my invention is there-- fore to provide a simple, inexpensive, foldable vending tray, made of cardboard or similar material and adapted to be stacked in the fiat or collapsed form in a box or package from which units of the vending trays may be taken as required and set up into usable form.

It is a further object of the invention to de signa tray of the above character which may be formed from pieces or sheets of inexpensive cardboard, popularly known as chipboard.

Another object of the invention is to construct the novel tray in a manner to be well reinforced, in order that it may retain its shape after it is set up. 7

A further object of my invention is to provide a vending tray of the character described which is so cheap to manufacture that it may be thrown away after having once been used, or given away for advertising purposes or future use.

With the above objects in view, and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the tray after it has'been 'set up; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tray in the developed form.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates the base of the :trayto be a section Ill of rectangular form, the same being extended at the rear with a section I I and at -the front with a section E2, the sections II and I2 being foldable on lines Ilaand Hot to vertical position when the tray is to be set up.

The tray is further formed with a section l5 similar to the section Ii! and extending from the section II. The section I5, which is cut with a plurality of circular openings I8, is foldable forwardly from the section I I on a line I5a. The section I5 is further extended with a final section I 6 which is foldable downwardly from the section I6 on the line Ifia when the tray is being set up.

A strip 20 is applied over the section Iii at each side with a permanent adhesive; and each strip 2?] is extended outwardly with a wing 2| which is foldable upwardly from the related strip 29 on a line 2Ia.

The section I5 receives a strip 25 at each side the same being secured by a permanent adhesive and extended outwardly with a wing 26, the latter being foldable downwardly on a line 26a from the related strip 25 when the tray is being set up.

The section it is extended at laterally spaced points with a pair of tongues 30; and the section I2 is formed with slots M at points corresponding with the positions of the tongues 39.

Each of the wings 23 is cut to include a pair of tongues 35 projecting outwardly from the strip 25. Each tongue 35 is formed with a pair of terminal tabs 36 which are foldable relative to the tongue on lines 36a. Also, the tabs 35 are separated from the strips 25 by incisions 35b.

The wings 2| are of the same width as the wings 26 and formed with a pair of slots 38 at points spaced similarly to the tongues 35. Beyond the slots .38 the wingsZI are extended with crowned formations 49 which contain large circular openings 5 I.

The section II! may be considered as the base of the tray, and in order to set the same up the sections II and I2 are bent to upstanding positions on the lines Ma and 120., respectively. The section I5 is now folded forwardly on the line I501 to become the'top of the tray, and the terminal section I6 is folded down to overlap the folded section I2, using the latter as a support. In addition, the tongues 30 are inserted into the slots 3|, as shown in Fig. l, to secure the section I 6 against accidental displacement.

The tray is now set up in box form, and its sides remain to be assembled. Accordingly, the wings 26 are folded down to meet the base II) of the tray and form supports for the top I5 thereof. The downfolding action of the wings'26 does not apply to the tongues 35, however, which extend outwardly from the strips 25 after the wings 26 have been folded down. Thus, when the wings 2! are swung upwardly toward a vertical position, they will intercept the projecting tongues 35. The slots 38 are only of a width suitable to receive the body portions 35 of these tongues but not the tab extensions 36. Therefore, these are momentarily folded upon the said body portions 35 and passed through the slots 38 as the wings 21 complete their movements to the vertical position. Since the tongues 35 are now fully projected from the wings 2!, their tabs 35 may be unfolded to extend endwise from the slots 38, so that the tongues are now fully on the outside of the wings 2|, as shown in Fig. 1, and lock the wings to the top of the tray.

The tray is now completely set up; and the openings IS in its top 55 are suitable for the insertion of the paper cups in which ice cream or soda water is sold and served. Whether the cups fit in the openings H3 or rest on the bottom of the tray, they will remain substantially upright and resist upsetting tendencies as the tray is carried.

It will now be apparent that the novel tray has a number of meritorious features. First, it is formed to receive the cups to a depth where they receive ample lateral support in the top l5, so that the cups are maintained in the upstanding position as they arecarried. Further, the strips 20 and 25 lend the base and top sections of the tray double thickness and strength, so as to counteract collapsing or sagging tendencies in these sections from the weight of the filled cups or the possible awkward handling of the tray. Further, the assembly of the wings 26 and 2| in doubled formation imparts a firm vertical support for the top of the tray and its filled contents, such support being supplemented by the front and rear walls l2-il of the tray. Further, the crowned sections 451, made with the openings "4!, serve as carrying handles for the tray in case it is not supported from underneath. Further, the tongues 35 procure locking joints with the terminal wings 2! at four points, insuring the permanent joining of the side portions of the tray against accidental displacement. A tray is thus had which. is originally in a fiat form tobe stacked compactly in quantities, yet foldable in a manner to produce a box or carton which is compact, strong, and neat in appearance. It goes without saying that the tray, despite its structural and perforated formations, affords ample space for.

identifying or advertising data; and the limited amount of material necessary for production of the tray not only enables it to be made from the small, or waste, sections of stock, but also involves a negligible cost when the trays are given away or discarded subsequent to use.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle. One such change may be the formation of the side wings 2| and 25 integrally with the sections iii and 15, respectively, where the material of the tray is sufficiently stiff or sturdy to hold its shape without the doubling reinforcing strips 20 and 25. I reserve the right to employ the modification just described and any other changes and refinements which may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim: I l. A foldable vending tray comprising a base section of substantially rectangular form, back and front sections extending from the base section for forming baci: and front walls, a top section extended from the back section to form a top, a terminal section extended from the top section and adapted to overlap the upstanding front section, means for closing the sides of the folded, structure, and means for locking said terminal section to said front section, said closing means comprising strips adhesively secured over the side portions of the top section and extended outwardly with wings which form a portion of the sides when said top section has assumed the form of a top, and other strips adhesively secured over the side portions of the base section, such other strips being extended outwardly with wings which form other portions of the sides and lie in overlapped relation to the first-mentioned wings, said first-mentioned strips being extended outwardly with tongues, the second-mentioned wings being formed with slots narrower than said tongues and positioned to register with the same when the second-mentioned wings are in the folded position, the tongues being undercut from the sides to permit their side portions to be folded over their medial portions and render the tongues sufficiently narrow to pass through said slots, said side portions then being unfolded to form locking tabs for said second-mentioned wings.

'2. A foldable vending tray comprising a 'base section of substantially rectangular form, back and front sections extending from the base section for forming back and front walls, a top section extended from the back section to form a top, a terminal section extended from the top section and adapted to overlap the upstanding front section, means for closing the sides of the folded structure, and means for locking said terminal section to said front section, said closing means comprising wings extending from the sides of the top section to form a side of the tray when the latter is in the form of a top, other wings extending laterally from the base section and adapted to overlap the first-mentioned wings, said other wings being extended outwardly with narrower portions, and the latter being formed with openings to lend them the form of handles when said other wings are in'the folded position.

3. A foldable vending tray comprising in combination a base section of rectangular form, front and back sections extending from opposite sides of the base section and foldable to a vertical position to define opposite front and back walls, a top section extending from the upper edge of the back wall section and forming a top wall for the tray, a terminal section extendingpfrorn the forward edge of the top section lying outside of the front wall, wings extending from opposite ends of both the top and bottom walls, said wings when folded upwardly forming the side walls of the tray, the wings of the top wall lying in overlapping relation with the wings of the bottom, the wings of the bottom wall having spaced openings therein, the wings of the top section having spaced tabs formed therefrom, said tabs fitting the openings in the bottom wings when the box is set up, said top having a plurality of article receiving openings formed therein.

ELSIE M. MURPHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

